Survivors of the Boko Haram attack on a mosque in Mafa, Tarmuwa Local Government Area of Yobe State, where over 100 civilians were killed, have shared their harrowing experiences.
On Sunday, Boko Haram terrorists stormed Mafa around 4 p.m., targeting worshippers as they were concluding their Asir prayers.
The attackers separated the elderly and herdsmen from the main congregation before opening fire.
Of the 87 bodies recovered from the scene, 34 were transported to Babbangida General Hospital for burial, while more than 50 decomposed bodies were given a mass burial the following Monday.
Mafa village is located near Shekau, the ancestral home of the late Boko Haram leader, Sheikh Abubakar Shekau.
One survivor, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, described narrowly escaping the attack.
He said: “I was lucky to come out of the mosques early, I saw them (insurgents) waiting, one of them shouted that I should go back but I ran way.
“We counted about 87 corpses after the terrorists left, while other dead bodies were recovered as people ran for their dear lives to the bush. Unfortunately, no security operatives was present at scene even after the attack.”
According to another survivor, who simply gave his name as Mallam Ali Isiaka, who attended the burial, one of his son was killed, even as he called on the security agencies to do the needful, as most of the people in the area were farmers, who would soon start harvesting their crops.
“Most of our people here are farmers and herders. It is unfortunate that after the incident, many people fled the village leaving their farmlands and hard-earned properties due to fear of another attack.”
“We are calling on the government and the security agencies to come to our aid and provide protection of lives and property in Mafa village and the entire Tarmuwa council,” Said Isiaka.
Vanguard noted that while security forces in the area have been targeting terrorists, they have not provided sufficient protection to the local community.
Residents believe that the recent deadly attack by the insurgents was a reprisal, based on suspicions that some community members had been sharing information about the insurgents’ tactics with security agencies.
Currently, Mafa village is deserted as residents fear further attacks from the marauding insurgents.
(allnews.ng)
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